Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 2 division/sector 3, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued nine kidnapped victims during ongoing clearance operations in Kwara state.
In a statement on Tuesday, Polycarp Okoye, acting deputy director of army public relations, said the kidnapped victims were rescued on Monday during a night patrol along Egbe-Okuran in Kogi and Okoloke through Patigi in Kwara.
Okoye said the victims, who were four men and five women, were abducted from Matoku community in Patigi LGA of Kwara on September 24.
He identified them as Abdullahi Umar (35), Alhaji Umaru Sarki Fawa (55), Labaran Abubakar (45), Umar Yanda (30), Hassana Muhammad (25), Maryam Muhammad (27), Aisha Idris (20), and Zainab Ahmed (12), and that they were given first aid and food before being handed over to local authorities in Patigi to reunite with their families.
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“On interrogation, the victims revealed that about three weeks ago, terrorists raided their village, kidnapped several persons, and rustled an unconfirmed number of cattle,” Okoye said.
“The victims further narrated that the bandits who took them suddenly became apprehensive, resulting from troops sustained operations in the area and consequently abandoned them and fled.”
Okoye attributed the breakthrough to the ongoing clearance operations by troops across Esanlu, Patigi, Babasango, Etsuyum, and adjoining communities in Kogi and Kwara states.
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He added that Chinedu Nnebeife, general officer commanding (GOC) 2 division and commander of sector 3, addressed the victims and commended troops for their efforts during a visit to Lata, Patigi LGA.
He also praised the synergy between the 12 and 22 brigades, urging them to sustain their collaboration for greater operational success.
Nnebeife appealed to residents to continue sharing credible intelligence that would help security agencies combat insecurity and protect lives and property in the region.
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